CRANBROOK & SISSINGHURST PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING & PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
HELD ON 7th SEPTEMBER 2021
Declaration of Interests, Dispensations and Predetermination:
Members are required to declare any interests, dispensations or predetermination on items on this agenda. Members are reminded that changes to the Register of Interests should be notified to the Clerk.
Cllr. Fletcher declared an interest in application 21/02768/FULL as a neighbour and would not participate in the vote. Cllr. Hatcher also declared a personal interest in that his stepson works for the owner of the property.
Present: Cllr. Bunyan (in the Chair), Cllrs. Fermor, Fletcher, Hatcher and Kings
Apologies: Cllrs. Gilbert & Smith
PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
15 Stone Street, Cranbrook, TN17 3HF
Retrospective Application for new decking and timber fence to rear of commercial property.
The Parish Council recommended REFUSAL for the following reasons:
Concerns raised on the detrimental impact on neighbours from noise and loss of privacy. If Officers are minded to approve, the outside area should be designated as no smoking and the hours of use should be clarified and documented. More detail is required on the methods of extraction for cooking and further investigation into a rodent issue was also considered necessary. Concerns at the LED lighting being proposed was also a concern to neighbours and the bat population.
Proposed by Cllr. Fermor, seconded by Cllr. Bunyan and agreed. Cllr. Hatcher wished to record his support of the application.
21/02746/FULL
Buckhurst Farm Sissinghurst Road Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent TN17 2AA
Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Drawings) of 15/505558/FULL – Minor change to rear elevation kitchen and bedroom to form two undercover parking bays with direct access to Kitchen. Change of approved drawings.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Hatcher and agreed.
21/02655/FULL
Land Adjacent to Wilsley Farm, Angley Road, Cranbrook Kent TN17 2LE
Erection of 16 No. residential dwellings with associated car parking, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage system and associated infrastructure and earthworks and a new vehicular access from Angley Road.
The Parish Council recommend REFUSAL for the following reasons:
- Outside Limits to Build development
- Within the AONB
- The site is not considered suitable for development
- Access onto the busy A229
- Partly within the Wilsley Conservation Area
- Agricultural Grade 3 land
- This site is not supported within the TWBC Draft Local Plan or the Cranbrook & Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Plan.
- Adjacent to Grade II Listed buildings.
- Members also concurred with the comment from Cranbrook Conservation Area Advisory Committee, that questions the validity of the Environmental Noise Monitoring Survey undertaken during the school holidays and whilst travel was still being impacted by the pandemic.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Hatcher and agreed.
21/02663/FULL
Market Gardens Goudhurst Road Cranbrook TN17 2PX
Proposed swimming pool within residential curtilage (retrospective).
The Parish Council recommended REFUSAL. There is a lack of detail in the application. Concerns were raised over the noise impact on neighbours and the height of the boundary trees some of which were not identifiable on the plans. Members would like to see photographs of the swimming pool and boundary treatment as this is a retrospective application, they should be made available.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Kings and agreed.
21/02747/FULL & 21/02748/LBC
Hawkridge Farmhouse The Common Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent
Proposed 1.5 storey garage/store building with home office space above.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Hatcher and agreed. It was noted that the application for Listed Building Consent had been withdrawn.
21/02687/FULL
Oak Tree Farm The Common Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent TN17 2HU
Retention of second traveller pitch (Retrospective).
The Parish Council recommended REFUSAL. Insufficient details had been provided. Concerns were raised on drainage; a sufficiently sized sewerage treatment plan needs to be identified before Members would consider recommending approval.
Proposed by Cllr. Fermor, seconded by Cllr. Fletcher and agreed.
21/02798/FULL
The Stables Biddenden Road Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent TN17 2JP
Demolition of existing octagonal sunroom and erection of new single-storey side garage and linked conservatory.
Members remained NEUTRAL as they felt some relevant detail had been omitted from the application.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Hatcher and agreed.
21/02573/FULL & 21/02574/LBC
Forge Farm Glassenbury Road Cranbrook Kent TN17 2QE
Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans); Condition 3 (External Materials) 20/02643/FULL – To add two roof skylights above the proposed rear ground floor extension to the house. The material of the skylights is to be metal frames with double glazing
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL, subject to the views of the Conservation Architect.
Proposed by Cllr. Kings, seconded by Cllr. Bunyan and agreed.
21/02629/FULL
Dulwich Preparatory School Course Horn Lane Cranbrook TN17 3NP
Erection of a pair of semi-detached houses and one detached house; Revised siting and design of Plots 6, 7 and 8; Revised parking and garaging arrangements; Incorporation of additional land to garden areas (revisions to planning permission 19/02136/FULL) (Part-Retrospective).
The Parish Council remained NEUTRAL, deferring their recommendation to the views of the Tree Officer.
Proposed by Cllr. Hatcher, seconded by Cllr. Bunyan and agreed.
21/02805/FULL
16 Oatfield Drive Cranbrook Kent TN17 3NG
Single storey rear extensions.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Fermor and agreed.
21/02795/FULL
Bourne Cottage Mill Lane Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent TN17 2HX
Demolition of existing garage and storage, erection of single storey extension to provide utility and garden room with storage.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL.
Proposed by Cllr. Bunyan, seconded by Cllr. Fletcher and agreed.
21/02769/FULL
15 Wheatfield Lea Cranbrook Kent TN17 3ND
Single-story flat roof rear extension with lantern lights; Remove existing garage.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL.
Proposed by Cllr. Fermor, seconded by Cllr. Hatcher and agreed.
21/02459/FULL
Travis Perkins, Wheatfield Drive, Cranbrook, TN17 3LU
Installation of a covered storage area, increase stock heights and modifications to parking.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL.
Proposed by Cllr. Fermor, seconded by Cllr. Fletcher and agreed.
21/02848/FULL
Bankside Goudhurst Road Cranbrook Kent TN17 2PZ
Demolition of existing dwelling, timber framed garage, stable block and timber store, and erection of detached dwelling and garage with associated landscaping.
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL, subject to the materials proposed being approved.
Proposed by Cllr. Hatcher, seconded by Cllr. Fermor and agreed.
21/02911/FULL
Castle View Biddenden Road Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent TN17 2AB
Erection of a dwelling and detached garage with associated orchard, landscaping and ecological enhancements.
The Parish Council recommended APROVAL, subject to the concerns raised by neighbours being adequately addressed.
Proposed by Cllr. Hatcher, seconded by Cllr. Bunyan and agreed.
APPEALS:
19/00308/FULL – PINS REF NO: APP/M2270/W/20/3265584
OS Plots 7755 And 7946 Sissinghurst Road Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent
Erection of 42 new dwellings, alongside car parking, cycle parking, drainage, internal road network and the creation of a principal access off Sissinghurst Road (A262), plus public open space, a play area and associated landscaping.
Members noted the appeal and reiterated their comments previously submitted:
- The claim by the developer in their technical report that the Parish Council had supported a speed reduction and traffic calming measures is untrue and we have not been consulted.
- The site is situated outside the village curtilage and the Limits to Build designated area. It is a greenfield site.
- Coalescence of the green space between Sissinghurst village and Wilsley Pound would be undesirable particularly on environmental grounds.
- Although this site has been submitted in the recent call for sites, it is not allocated in the current draft Neighbourhood Development Plan.
- Access from the A262 highway is unacceptable and the likely associated column lighting that will be required will create urbanisation on the approach to Sissinghurst village. Safety concerns were also raised.
- Mill Lane is a TWBC designated “Rural Lane” and incapable of taking the increased volume of traffic that will be generated from the development by drivers taking a short cut.
- The pedestrian access from Mill Lane on to the south east corner of the site which is on a blind corner so you have to cross the road in order to access the poorly maintained footpath.
- Although the site is not in the AONB it does overlook it and there are a number of environmental constraints that need to be considered.
- Design of dwellings inappropriate particularly the so-called “affordable” homes.
20/00815/FULL
Land Adjacent to Turnden, Hartley Road, Cranbrook.
The construction of 165 new dwellings with associated access, car parking, refuse/recycling storage, landscaping, earthworks and other associated works.
Members noted the scheduling of the Public Inquiry and made no further comment.
TWBC PLANNING DECISIONS:
Cllr. Bunyan read out the decisions received from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
CORRESPONDENCE:
21/02541/FULL
4 West Terrace High Street Cranbrook Kent TN17 3LG
Proposed addition of 1no. off-street accessible parking space, associated hard and soft landscaping, and extension to an existing dropped kerb.
We had been contacted by the applicant, with some additional information to consider that Members had not been aware of when the application was discussed. Members remained concerned at the lack of access and egress to the site and as it appears the applicant has now moved from the property, no further comments were deemed necessary.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:
None were raised.
